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MP cut from Northern Ontario as Timmins riding lines redefined

'The boundary commission came to Northern Ontario determined to cut our political representation,' says Timmins—James Bay MP Charlie Angus
Maija Hoggett
Maija Hoggett
2023-02-10-ridingchanges
The updated riding changes for Northern Ontario proposed by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission.

A group tasked with taking a look at federal riding boundaries has redrawn the Timmins riding and cut a Member of Parliament from Northern Ontario in favour of adding extra representation in the south.

The changes forced on the riding give more political representation to the south, says Timmins—James Bay MP Charlie Angus.

The new riding that includes the Timmins area is Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk. It starts in the Kirkland Lake area, capturing communities along Highway 11 to the north, and extends up to Peawanuck. It has a population of 93,948. The new map from the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission was tabled in the House of Commons last week and should be official in September.

Angus' position as the current elected representative does not change, however, the map with new boundaries will be used in the next election. 

See related: Final report redefines Timmins riding, reduces MPs in the north

See also: Proposed riding boundary changes a 'kick in the teeth': MP

With the changes, Englehart, Earlton, Thornloe and Elk Lake will be part of the slightly expanded Nipissing—Timiskaming riding. Angus says cutting a line through Timiskaming was done without any input from affected residents. 

And: Ridings boundary changes may put Englehart in Nipissing-Timiskaming

“The boundary commission came to Northern Ontario determined to cut our political representation. At no time did they ask the people of Timiskaming whether or not they wanted to be cut from Kirkland Lake and Timmins. These are just lines on a map to the boundary commission, but to the people in our region, they are important connections built up over decades," he said in a news release.

See: Opinion: Riding redistribution means less northern representation

All of the communities including in the new Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk riding are Timmins, Cochrane, Hearst, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee, Smooth Rock Falls, Black River-Matheson, Chapleau, Fauquier-Strickland, Gauthier, Larder Lake, Matachewan, Mattice-Val Côté, McGarry, Moonbeam, Opasatika, and Val Rita-Harty. The First Nations communities included are Abitibi, Attawapiskat, Chapleau No. 74A and 75, Chapleau Cree Fox Lake, Constance Lake, Duck Lake, Factory Island, Flying Post, Fort Albany, Matachewan, Moose Factory, New Post and Peawanuck.

— From TimminsToday